This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Crausman, R. S. Articles by Glod, D. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Crausman, R. S. Articles by Glod, D. J.

Perioperative Medical Assessment of the Podiatric Surgical Patient

Robert S. Crausman, MD, MMS ^* and Douglas J. Glod, DPM 

^* Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and Brown Medical School, Pawtucket, RI. Dr. Crausman is now with the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, Department of Health–Rhode Island and Brown Medical School, Providence, RI.
Department of Podiatry, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and Brown Medical School, Pawtucket, RI.

Corresponding author: Robert S. Crausman, MD, MMS, Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, Department of Health, The Cannon Bldg, 3 Capitol Hill, Ste 205, Providence, RI 02908.

Abstract

Patients undergoing podiatric surgery should receive a thorough perioperative evaluation. Medical "clearance" is no longer sufficient; rather, formal risk assessment should be performed and risk-reducing strategies provided. A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving practitioners in internal medicine, anesthesiology, and podiatry is generally most appropriate. Unfortunately, expertise and training in this critical dimension of clinical practice are variable. Thus podiatric physicians should develop independent competence in perioperative evaluation in order to ensure optimal care for their patients. A general systematic approach is described that can be readily incorporated into clinical practice. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(2): 86-89, 2004)